Jake White and his team are in Dublin hoping to upset the massive odds that are against them in this season’s URC Grand Final and the coach invoked Bloody Sunday and several other lessons for his side to finally be third time lucky and in their first URC title. Hosts Brenden Nel and Liam del Carme dissect their chances in the showpiece season-ending clash, and we hear from Leinster’s Dan Sheehan and Bulls players Willie le Roux and Akker van der Merwe on what it will take to win the title. The h...
Jun 12, 2025•26 min0
In this week’s edition of To the Last Drop, Brenden flies solo and chats all things United Rugby Championship with seasoned Rugby writer Gavin Rich. From what Jaden Hendrikse said to Jack Crowley that caused the heated exchange in the controversial quarterfinal win in Durban to the big semifinal at Loftus Versfeld this weekend, there is a lot to discuss. Have the Sharks finally got themselves into a position where they can overcome their own demons to make it to the final, or will the Bulls get ...
Jun 04, 2025•49 min0
Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt insists his team needs to storm out of their castle instead of being preoccupied defending it when they take on the Bulls in their United Rugby Championship quarter-final at Lofts Versfeld on Saturday. Everitt told the hosts of To The Last Drop his team will have to stick to what has worked for them this season if they are going to optimise their performance in Pretoria. Edinburgh is undaunted about the task facing them to win at Loftus for the first time and they dr...
May 28, 2025•37 min0
On this week's 'To The Last Drop' hosts Brenden Nel and Liam Del Carme pay tribute to Springbok and Bulls utility back Cornal Hendricks who passed away this week. Hendricks was a much loved character, as full of life as he was fight. A poor upbringing and a potentially life threatening medical condition did not stand in the way of the dreams. Even after his Test days were numbered he continued to play with his infectious, characteristic smile. The episode also delves into the Lions failure at re...
May 15, 2025•39 min0
Content creator and general funny man Bouwer Bosch chews the fat on 'To The Last Drop' this week. Bosch who has taken the advertising world by storm with some quirky and often hilarious content explains what it's like working with Springboks outside their natural habitat. He explains the often fine line he has to walk to remain edgy in his content without delivering gratuitous cheap shots. He also reveals which Boks are 'naturals' when it comes to shooting content and who he'd like to work with ...
Apr 16, 2025•53 min0
Club rugby steps out of the shadows and into sharp focus on this week's edition of 'To The Last Drop'. The community game has long operated on the periphery but it is slowly reclaiming its place in the game's eco-system. Special guest on the show is former Pirates Rugby Club Chairman and marketing and sponsorship guru Brad Guymer who shares his thoughts on the revitalisation of club rugby and runs the rule over sponsorship bonanza the Springboks recently concluded. Also on the show the Bulls awa...
Apr 09, 2025•45 min0
SA's top players have shown an appreciable drop in performance in the United Rugby Championship the hosts of 'To The Last Drop' agreed on this week's show. Poor decision making in particular have haunted some big names and it helped contribute to the defeats the Hollywoodbets Sharks, the DHL Stormers and the Emirate Lions suffered last weekend. The Vodacom Bulls won well against Zebre Parma but they are yet to convince they can maintain intensity across 80 minutes to win three knock-out matches ...
Apr 02, 2025•31 min0
The Hollywoodbets Sharks' clash with Leinster in Durban appears to be the plum fixture in this weekend's round of URC action concurred 'To The Last Drop' hosts Brenden Nel and Liam Del Carme. The Sharks were made to sweat for victory last weekend against lowly Zebre Parma and our hosts agree Leinster will provide them with an even stiffer challenge this weekend. Also, on this episode director of rugby Jake White expresses his wish list for the Bulls talent pool while Lions scrum coach Julian Red...
Mar 26, 2025•40 min0
Former Springbok assistant coach Johann van Graan made the tough move to the bottom of the English Premiership log, Bath, two years ago. It seemed like a mountain to climb. This past weekend, he led the club to their first trophy in 17 years, and they are also on course to win the Premiership. He joined "To The Last Drop" to talk about his journey, settling in Bath, and where he thinks rugby needs to go in the future.
Mar 19, 2025•44 min0
Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff has entered a new phase of his life after he was forced to retire because of a neck injury. The popular loose head prop sat down with the hosts of 'To The Last Drop' (TTLD) and explained what the next phase of his life might entail. Kitshoff reflected on a career that saw him play in 83 Tests and collect two Rugby World Cup medals. TTLD also previews the Sharks' clash against the Lions as well as this weekend's Six Nations matches, in particular Ireland's match-up ...
Mar 05, 2025•36 min0
The Stormers' scrum will come under intense scrutiny when they clash with the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday, agreed 'To The Last Drop' hosts Liam Del Carme and Brenden Nel. The last time the teams met the Stormers back pedalled in that facet and a repeat of that kind of retreat will almost surely put paid to their chances of advancing up the points table this weekend. The Stormers are in 10th spot on the URC log and apart from a win that will sustain their challenge for a pl...
Feb 27, 2025•29 min0
The Lions cannot be underestimated Vodacom Bulls' director of rugby Jake White argued ahead of Saturday's Jukskei derby at Loftus Versfeld. White is wary of the Lions after their win over the Stormers but the hosts of 'To The Last Drop' argue the home team will be better suited to the expected inclement weather on Saturday. They reminded the Lions could leapfrog the Stormers on the points table with a win on Saturday, while stressing the Bulls need to back up their forward grunt with better game...
Feb 20, 2025•37 min0
Phepsi Buthelezi and some of his younger teammates have been inspired by the strong Springbok contingent in the Sharks squad. Buthelezi, an energetic flank who played one Test for the Boks last year, believes the high number of Test stars in the Sharks' ranks has had a positive impact on the squad. Buthelezi told the hosts of 'To The Last Drop' the Sharks are ready to meet the stiff challenge likely to be presented by the Vodacom Bulls in their URC derby clash in Pretoria on Saturday. He also pr...
Feb 12, 2025•37 min0
Bulls coach Jake White is keeping his options open and will consider Willie le Roux at flyhalf for Saturday's United Rugby Championship clash against the Stormers in Cape Town. White sang Le Roux's praises on 'To The Last Drop', highlighting the Bok fullback's match-winning performance against the Lions at Ellis Park. White said he knows what the player offers the Bulls and that they need him to go into 'that position'. Stormers director of rugby John Dobson told Brenden and Liam it is difficult...
Feb 05, 2025•38 min0
The Stormers and the Lions are in real danger of not reaching the knock-out rounds of the United Rugby Championship. 'To The Last Drop' hosts Liam Del Carme and Brenden Nel take a deep dive on their prospects in their remaining league matches, with a particular focus on their upcoming derby matches on the highveld. The Stormers need to win their derby matches and go on an unbeaten home run in their last four matches in Cape Town to have a sniff. The prospects for the Lions are a little bleaker. ...
Jan 29, 2025•32 min0
‘To the Last Drop’ is back for 2025! Brenden Nel and Liam Del Carme kick off the year by breaking down South Africa’s early Champions Cup exit and looking ahead to an action-packed weekend in the URC. The spotlight is on the Jukskei Derby, where the Lions and Bulls are set to clash at Ellis Park. Helping us preview the big game is Lions front-row giant Asenathi Ntlabakanye, who shares his rugby journey, what drives him to succeed, and a surprising “what-if” about where he could have ended up ins...
Jan 23, 2025•25 min0
On the last edition of To The Last Drop for the year podcast hosts Brenden Nel and Liam Del Carme reach into their Christmas stockings, and reveal their wishlist for South African rugby for the New Year. They reflect on a momentous year for Springbok rugby and lament some of the shortcomings still afflicting the domestic game, especially in the Champions Cup. They also look forward to some of the mouthwatering fixtures awaiting rugby fans next year, especially in Australia and New Zealand....
Dec 24, 2024•31 min0
Apart from the resumption of long tours from the All Blacks, South African rugby fans can also look forward to the NZ Māori visiting these shores in the not-too-distant future. South African Rugby Union president Mark Alexander explained a multi-layered approach in the strengthening of their bond with New Zealand Rugby which includes visits from the Māori and the Silver Ferns. On the 'To The Last Drop' podcast Alexander also reiterated the need to broker a global season, a long-held ambition tha...
Dec 19, 2024•33 min0
Having failed in their bid last week, South African Rugby Union president Mark Alexander has reiterated the need to find an equity partner. Speaking on the 'To The Last Drop' podcast, he acknowledged that time is of the essence as the local game needs an injection of cash but also equity partners that can help grow and sustain the game. Despite keen local interest, Alexander insists SA Rugby needs an equity partner with the expertise to monetise and build the Springbok brand globally.
Dec 12, 2024•29 min0
“There are no more excuses,” star Lions midfielder Henco van Wyk insists ahead of his team's Challenge Cup opener against the Ospreys in Swansea. The Lions who last season came tantalisingly close to reaching the play-offs in the United Rugby Championship are yet to play in the knock-out rounds but Van Wyk told the hosts of 'To The Last Drop' they need to deliver better returns this season. He explained they have a settled group of players and have no reason not to improve this season. The centr...
Dec 04, 2024•31 min0
His team took a lot of confidence from their podium finish at the Paris Olympics, Blitzboks coach Philip Snyman argues ahead of the World Sevens Series in Dubai. He believes his team will also be ready to handle the pressure of playing in Cape Town next week. They will however be without the hugely influential Selvyn Davids who is injured but Snyman told the 'To the Last Drop' podcast they have sufficient contingencies in place to mitigate the blow. Snyman also chuckles at the notion he might ha...
Nov 27, 2024•43 min0
They were at opposite ends of a bitter spat during the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021 but Rassie Erasmus and Warren Gatland have since cleared the air. Erasmus and Gatland will again pit their coaching wits against each other when the Boks take on Wales at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday. There appears to be no hangover from the Lions' series and Erasmus in fact, on this week's episode of 'To the Last Drop' comes out to bat for the beleaguered Gatland who has s...
Nov 20, 2024•37 min0
What does it take to have a winning mentality? What does it mean to be mentally tough? Can mental toughness be taught? All these teasing questions are answered on the next episode of To The Last Drop with renowned sports psychologist Henning Gericke. Gericke, a former middle distance athlete of some repute is perhaps best remembered for being part of the Springbok medical team at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Gericke who currently consults with the Bulls also points to the pitfalls parents face when...
Nov 13, 2024•48 min0
The improved performances of their teams in the United Rugby Championship will stand Scotland in good stead during their Autumn Series and beyond. SA-born Glasgow Warriors coach Franco Smith tells the To The Last Drop podcast Scotland will give a better account of themselves when they play the Springboks at Murrayfield on Sunday compared to the 18-3 defeat they suffered in the Rugby World Cup in Marseille last year. Smith has brought a steely mentality to his players' improved conditioning and p...
Nov 06, 2024•40 min0
SA Rugby chief executive Rian Oberholzer is in the hot seat on the latest edition of To The Last Drop. Presenters Brenden Nel and Liam Del Carme fired wide ranging questions at the veteran rugby administrator, in particular SA Rugby's much publicised proposed equity deal with the Ackerley Sports Group (ASG). Oberholzer reaffirmed SA Rugby's need to enter an equity agreement and he explained why ASG was their preferred bidder. Oberholzer also laid bare what SA's competition structure might look l...
Oct 30, 2024•39 min0
Vincent Tshituka still wants to play for the Springboks but the Sharks flank that it will be tough. He points to the long conveyor belt of outstanding loose forwards in South Africa as a potential obstacle but is keeping the faith. Hosts Liam Del Carme and Brenden Nel note scrumhalf Faf de Klerk's absence from the Bok squad to tour the United Kingdom, but they agree it is a very powerful 34-man squad. They are also in agreement the Bulls were unfortunate to cop another red card in the URC and th...
Oct 23, 2024•34 min0
Rugby, as vehicle for delivering a spectacle, is on as smooth a path as it has ever been professor Ross Tucker tells this week's edition of To The Last Drop. The renowned sports scientist who sits on a World Rugby committee tasked with player well-being, especially in relation to concussion, says players are now less likely to suffer catastrophic injury than ever before. This, he believes, has not come at the expense of the product despite the fact that the sport is played at breakneck speed. Ho...
Oct 16, 2024•46 min0
South Africa's all conquering teams in last weekend's matches in the United Rugby Championship face a far more daunting challenge this weekend when all go into combat away from home. Still, To The Last Drop hosts Brenden Nel and Liam Del Carme argue all four have a realistic chance of coming away with victory in their clashes in the United Kingdom and Italy. Also on the show, Lions No8 Francke Horn explains why his team will this weekend go into their clash against the Dragons brimming confidenc...
Oct 09, 2024•41 min0
On this week's To The Last Drop, Brenden and Liam break down last weekend's Rugby Championship decider between the Springboks and Argentina in Mbombela. They delve into how the title-winning campaign will benefit the Boks down the line and what the team's management may have in store for the end-of-year tour in November. Later Aphelele Fassi, who has rediscovered the spring in his step, and the always trucking Pieter-Steph du Toit have their say.
Oct 02, 2024•32 min0
Our 'To The Last Drop' hosts agree the Springboks have much to atone in this Saturday's Rugby Championship decider against Argentina in Nelspruit. They fell agonisingly short in rural Argentina last weekend but our hosts concur that defeat cannot be placed at the door of just one player. Besides, apart from missing one kick Manie Libbok actually had a decent Test in Santiago del Estero. Later in the episode former Blitzboks flyer Marius Schoeman tells Brenden and Liam about his transition from S...
Sep 26, 2024•44 min0
